Timing device



Nov. 17, '1936.

P. s. EDMUNDS 2,061,511

TIMING DEVICE I Filed July e,- 1935 15L T 19; I 18L (Z3, ill 7 Phillip S. Edmuna's INVENTQR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNlTED STATES PATENT QFFEQE Claims.

This invention relates to timing devices and more particularly to a device for operating or initiating the operation of any desired mechanism after a predetermined length of time. The in- 5 vention has particular utility in releasing a toy parachute or other device from a toy airplane because of its extreme simplicity and the lightness of the materials from which it can be fabricated, but its utility is not limited thereto.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and light weight timing device.

Another object is to provide a timing device capable of operating or initiating the operation of any desired mechanism after a predetermined time delay.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device for releasing a toy parachute or other device from a toy airplane at a predetermined time after the release of said airplane.

A still further object is to provide a device for operating the shutter of a photographic camera or similar device after a predetermined time delay.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detail descripton of the preferred embodiments of the invention illusstrated in the attached drawing of which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a device according to the present invention as applied to a toy airplane;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the lines 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modification of the invention as applied to a camera.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a base plate I 0, a pivoted member II, a friction element 12, and a spring I3. The pivoted member II is pivotally mounted upon the base plate I!) at M and is provided with a friction element engaging arm I 5, a latching arm l6 and an actuating arm ll. The pivoted member H is resiliently urged in a clockwise direction in Fig. 1 by the spring l3 attached to a lug I8 upon the base plate Ill and engaging a lug I9 carried by the friction element engaging arm of the pivoted member. The clockwise movement of the pivoted member is limited by a stop carried by the base plate. The arm! 15 of the pivoted member terminates in an upturned portion 2|, the outer surface of which is concentric with the pivot M. The upturned portion 2| is adapted to frictionally engage the friction element 12 which is secured to a plate 22 provided with slots 23 so as to be adjustably attached to the base plate Ill by screws 24. The friction element has an inner arcuate surface also concentric with the pivot l4 and is adjusted to provide substantially uniform pressure against the upturned portion 25 of the pivoted member in all contacting positions thereof with the friction element. The friction element is preferably formed of a resilient friction material such as vulcanized rubber although any friction material which will provide for uniform retarded movement of the pivoted member may be employed. The latching arm i6 is adapted to be positioned below hinged flaps or doors 25 in the lower surface of a toy airplane so as to maintain the doors in closed position in the full line position of the pivoted member.

In operating the device of Figs. 1 and 2, a toy parachute, bomb, or other object is placed in a cavity in the airplane above the doors 25, the doors closed and the pivoted member manually rotated by the actuating arm I! into the full line position of Fig. 1. The actuating arm ll is released at the same time the toy airplane is released and the pivoted member slowly rotates in a. clockwise direction in Fig. 1 under the influence of spring l3. This rotation is retarded by the friction element l2 until the friction engaging portion 2! approaches the end of friction element 12 at which time the pivoted member suddenly snaps into the dotted line position of Fig. 1 to release the doors 25. The time delay before releasing the doors 25 can be varied by varying the starting position of the pivoted member relative to the friction element l2.

The modification of the device shown in Fig. 3

is generally similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

and is adapted to control the exposure time of a camera and includes a base plate l0 adapted to be secured to a camera with an aperture 26 in the base plate positioned in front of the camera lens 21. A pivoted member II is pivoted to the base plate ill at M and is provided with an actuating arm ll, shutter arms l5 and i5 separated by an exposure gap 28 and a friction element engaging portion 2!. A spring i3 is secured to the base plate it at l8 and urges the pivoted member in a clockwise direction in Fig. 3 by engagement with a lug 19 carried by the pivoted member. The base plate it! carries a friction element l2 secured thereto and a stop 20 to limit the movement of the pivoted member.

In operation, the pivoted member ll of the device of Fig. 3 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the actuating arm ll until the lens 2! is covered by the shutter arm l5 and the friction engaging portion 2| is near the left end of the friction element l2. The actuating arm is then released and the pivoted member is moved by the spring l3 slowly in a clockwise direction keeping the lens covered until the friction engaging portion 2I' approaches the right end of the friction element at which time the pivoted member snaps to a position against the stop 20. During this rapid movement the lens 21 is exposed for a short period of time through the gap 28 and is then covered by the shutter arm IS.

The modification of Fig. 3 may be used for making pictures of the operator of the camera, who may adjust the pivoted member and then join the group upon which the camera has been focused before the exposure is completed. Also because of the light Weight of the materials from which the device may be constructed, it is particularly adapted for attachment to cameras attached to kites, balloons or model airplanes. The rigid portions of both the modifications herein disclosed are preferably made of relatively thin sheet aluminum and the springs are preferably light strips of spring metal or piano wire. The friction elements may be light strips of soft lively rubber. The friction elements may be of any length desired in order to provide for different periods of time delay. Also the time delay may be controlled within limits by varying the pressure between the friction element and engaging portion of the pivoted member, for example, by adjusting the friction element toward or away from the central pivot. By providing arcuate friction elements concentric with the pivot, substantially uniform pressure is obtained and a slow regular movement of the movable member produced.

While I have described the preferred embodiments of my invention it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details or uses of the invention disclosed but may be varied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention 1. A timing device comprising a base, a movable member, a pivot connecting said member to said base for pivotal movement of said member, resilient means for moving said member in one direction, and a resilient friction element secured to said base and having a friction surface forming a segment of a cylinder concentric with said pivot, said member having a portion contacting said surface and being rigid between said pivot and said portion so as to have its movement substantially uniformly retarded by said friction surface.

2. A timing device comprising a base, a movable member, a pivot connecting said member to said base for pivotal movement of said member, resilient means for moving said member in one direction, and a soft rubber friction element ad justably secured to said base and having a friction surface forming a segment of a cylinder concentric with said pivot, said member having a portion contacting said surface and being rigid between said pivot and said portion so as to have its movement substantially uniformly retarded by said friction surface.

3. A timing device comprising a base, a movable member, a pivot connecting said member to said base for pivotal movement of said member, resilient means for moving said member in one direction, a resilient friction element secured to said base and having a friction surface forming a segment of a cylinder concentric with said piv ot, said member having a portion contacting said surface during a portion only of its movement and being rigid between said pivot and said portion so as to have its movement substantially uniformly retarded by said friction surface and a stop for limiting the movement of said member after said portion moves out of engagement with said surface.

4. In a timing device for releasing after a time delay an article such as a parachute from a model airplane having a cavity for said article and a closure for said cavity, the combination of a base, a movable member for securing said closure in closed position, a pivot connecting said member to said base for pivotal movement, resilient means for moving said member in a direction to release said closure, and a resilient friction element secured to said base and having a friction surface forming a segment of a cylinder concentric with said pivot, said member having a portion contacting said surface and being rigid between said pivot and said portion so as to have its movement substantially uniformly retarded by said friction surface, said member securing said closure in closed position for at least a portion of said retarded movement and then releasing said closure.

5. In a timing device for effecting an exposure after a time delay of a photographic camera having an aperture, the combination of a base, a

movable member having a pair of spaced light intercepting means adapted to be successively positioned before said aperture, a pivot connecting said member to said base for pivotal movement, resilient means for moving said member in a direction to successively position said elements before said aperture, and a resilient friction element secured to said base and having a friction surface forming a segment of a cylinder concentric with said pivot, said member having a portion contacting said surface during a part only of its movement and being rigid between said pivot and said portion so as to provide for substantially uniformly retarded movement during a part of its movement and rapid movement during the remainder of said movement, one of said light intercepting means being positioned before said aperture during said retarded movement and the other of said light intercepting means being positioned before said aperture after said rapid movement.

PHILLIP S. EDMUNDS. 

